BIBLE STUDY Following Joshua s death, the Israelites were without a leader. They fell into a cycle of sin that can be seen during each reign of the judges. The cycle is marked by an A-B-C-D-E pattern. Let s look at the first judge, Othniel, to see this pattern. First, the people fell into Apostasy. They turned away from God and served other gods. (Judg. 3:7) Next, they experienced a period of Bondage. God was angry with the Israelites, and He gave them into the hand of the king of Aram. (v. 8) Third, the people Cried out to God. (v. 9) God sent a Deliverer to save them. (vv. 9-10) Finally, they had Ease in the land. (v. 11) Then Othniel died. This pattern continued with Ehud. The people had again turned from God. Their apostasy made God angry. He sent them into bondage by strengthening the king of Moab to defeat Israel. The Israelites served the king of Moab for 18 years. The Moabites were well-fed, especially the king. They enjoyed the fruit of the Israelites labor while the Israelites went hungry. By thrusting a sword into the king s belly, Ehud disemboweled the king and left him dead on the floor of his room. The fat covered over the handle of the sword so that Ehud could not remove it. After Ehud delivered Israel, the Israelites struck down the Moabites and there was peace in the land for eighty years. But Ehud would die, and they would need another judge to lead them. The Israelites needed someone better than a judge; they needed a king who would save them not only from the consequences of their sin, but the sin itself. That was all part of God s plan. God sent a true Deliverer; His Son, Jesus, died for our sin and delivered us forever from the oppression of sin and death. SUGGESTED THEME DECORATING IDEAS: Simulate the interior of a diner by setting up a few chairs and round tables with checkered tablecloths, generic condiment bottles, and napkins. Write special menu items and prices on a small chalkboard. Consider using the themed background slide. 3-5 YEAR OLDS 1
Countdown video COUNTDOWN VIDEO Show the countdown video as your kids arrive, and set it to end as large group time begins. WORSHIP Worship leaders sing two songs with the children and collect offering. Bible The First Judges video Bible Story Picture Slide INTRODUCE THE BIBLE STORY (3 MINUTES) [Large Group Leader enters wearing khaki pants, a solid-colored shirt, an apron, and a hat. Leader carries a Bible.] LEADER Well, hello there! Are you Huddy? No? Hmm...I am waiting for a new employee to train today. I ve been working here at this restaurant for almost two years, so part of my job is training new employees. It s actually a lot of fun! Well, since Huddy isn t here yet, I am going to take my break and spend some time with you. Who tells you what is right and wrong? Who helps you know what do? Your mom and dad? Your teachers? Other grown-ups? Other kids? In today s Bible story, God s people kept doing the wrong thing, but God sent people to help them know what to do. These people were called judges. WATCH THE BIBLE STORY (10 MINUTES) Open your Bible to Judges 3. Say There is no book like the Bible because no other book has God s words in it. God gives us His true words in the Bible. Our story comes from the Book of Judges. Show the Bible story video The First Judges or tell the Bible story in your own words using the script provided. Use the bolded version for younger preschoolers. The First Judges Judges 3:7-31 Joshua had died. Without a strong leader, the Israelites began to disobey God. Nothing good ever happened when the Israelites disobeyed God. God wanted the people to love and obey Him, so he gave them a leader called a judge. When a judge led the people, the Israelites obeyed God. But when the judge died, the people forgot God and bad things happened. So the Israelites cried out to God again for help. Then God gave them another judge. Othniel (AHTH nih el) was the first judge. God was with Othniel, and Othniel led the Israelites into battle. God helped the Israelites win. The land was peaceful for many years, then Othniel died. With no leader, the Israelites forgot about God. God was angry. He let the king of Moab attack the Israelites and defeat them. The Israelites had to serve the king of Moab for 18 years. The Israelites were sad. They remembered how good it had been when they loved and obeyed God. They cried out to Him, Save us! So God chose Ehud (EE huhd) to save them. The Israelites sent Ehud to the king of Moab with a gift. Ehud made himself a sharp sword. He 2 3-5 YEAR OLDS
hid it under his clothes. Then Ehud went to the king of Moab, who was a very fat man. Ehud said, I have a secret message for you. The king told all his attendants to go away so he was alone with Ehud. When the king stood up, Ehud reached under his clothes and pulled out his sword. Ehud killed the king. Then he ran away, locking the doors of the room behind him. Ehud was gone when the king s servants came in. They found the king s room locked and thought he was using the bathroom. They waited, but the king never opened the door. When they unlocked the door, the king was dead on the floor! When Ehud got away, he blew a ram s horn and became the leader of the Israelites. They fought the Moabites and won. They had peace in the land for 80 years. Ehud died, and the Israelites forgot God again. When they remembered how good they had it when they loved and obeyed God, they cried out to Him, Save us! God sent a third judge, Shamgar (SHAM gahr), to save them. Christ Connection: After God s people sinned, the judges helped God s people obey God again. But the judges could not change the people s hearts and make them love God. God had a plan. He sent His Son, Jesus, to change His people s hearts and save them from sin forever. Timeline Poster Main Point Slide Big Picture question slides TALK ABOUT THE BIBLE STORY (1 MINUTE) Say The Israelites forgot about the one true God. They disobeyed God, and bad things happened. They cried out to God. God sent judges to help them. When the judge died, the people would do it all over again. Point to the Bible story picture on the giant timeline or big story circle as you ask the following review questions: Who were the leaders God gave Israel? (judges) What happened when a judge led Israel? (The people obeyed God.) What happened after a judge died? (The Israelites forgot about the one true God.) Who did God use to defeat the King of Moab? (Ehud) What happened after the Israelites defeated Moab? (peace in the land) BIG PICTURE QUESTION (1 MINUTE) say Our big picture question is, Whom does God use in His plan? God uses people in His plan. The Israelites forgot about the one true God. The judges helped the people turn back to God, but the judges could not change the people s hearts and make them love God. God had a plan. He sent His Son, Jesus, to change His people s hearts and save them from sin forever. Key passage KEY PASSAGE (5 MINUTES) Open your Bible to Isaiah 33:22. Read the key passage aloud several times. Sing together the key passage song He Will Save Us. say Our key passage tells us that God is our Judge, God is our Lawgiver, and God is our King. God uses people in His plan, but He is the One in charge of everything. God has power over people and uses them to work out His good plan. PRAYER (2 MINUTES) Invite kids to pray before dismissing to small groups. DISMISS TO SMALL GROUP 3-5 YEAR OLDS 3
Activity Page pencils or markers ACTIVITY PAGE Invite preschoolers to look at the two pictures and circle the differences in the second picture. Say Remember when Joshua told the people to worship God? The Israelites said they would worship only God. Well, in today s Bible story, the Israelites forgot about God and disobeyed Him. God wanted His people to love and obey Him. Let s find out what God did to turn His people s hearts back to Him. 10 minutes after the start of service Break into groups of 10 or less children for Small group ACTIVITY (10 MINUTES) Judges Sequencing Cards printable heavyweight paper scissors SEQUENCE SCENES Print the Judges Sequencing Cards on heavyweight paper and cut them apart. Assist preschoolers in putting the scenes in the correct order. Review the Bible story as preschoolers work. Say The Israelites forgot about the one true God. God would send a judge to rescue the Israelites from their enemies and turn them back to God. This happened over and over again because the judges could not change the people s hearts and make them love God. God had a plan. He sent His Son, Jesus, to change His people s hearts and save them from sin forever. SNACK TIME Gather preschoolers for snack time. Thank God for the snack. Before serving the snack, ask a preschooler to help you serve the snack. Remind preschoolers that the Israelites forgot about the one true God. The judges helped the Israelites obey God again, but the judges could not change the people s hearts and make them love God. God sent Jesus to change His people s hearts and save them from sin forever. TRANSITION When a child finishes his snack, guide him to throw away any trash. He may select a book or puzzle to examine, play quietly with toys, or color the Journal coloring page. 4 3-5 YEAR OLDS
crayons Journal Page JOURNAL PAGE Offer the journal page and invite preschoolers to draw a picture of how a parent or other adult helps them. Remind preschoolers that God sent judges to help His people. Pray for the children. PRAY Say God, thank You that when we don t love You and disobey You that You make a way to turn our hearts back to You. Change our hearts to love You and obey You. Thank You for sending Jesus save us and change our sinful hearts. Amen. If parents are picking up their children at this time, tell them something that their child enjoyed doing or did well during the session. Distribute the preschool big picture cards for families. While preschoolers might not be ready to respond to the gospel, use this guide to help little minds begin to grasp big truths about Jesus and the kingdom of God. GOD IS KING. Ask: Who is in charge at home? Who is in charge over the whole world? Explain that God made everything! He is King over everything, and He is in charge. WE SINNED. Ask: Have you ever done something wrong? Tell preschoolers that everyone sins, or disobeys God. Our sin makes God sad. GOD SENT JESUS. Explain that God must punish sin. He loves us and He sent His Son, Jesus, to earth. Jesus came to take away the punishment for sin. JESUS LOVES. Ask: Do you like presents? Explain that Jesus gives us the best present. He never did anything wrong, but He was punished in our place. Jesus wants to take away our sin because He loves us. Pray that God will save your preschoolers. As you faithfully teach the Bible, you are planting gospel seeds in children s hearts. Ask God to grow the preschoolers into children who love and trust in Jesus. THE GOSPEL: GOD S PLAN FOR ME Use Scripture and the guide provided in the classroom to explain to boys and girls how to become a Christian. Assign individuals to meet with kids who have more questions. If this is not possible, encourage boys and girls to ask their parents, leader, or other Christian adults any questions they may have about becoming a Christian. The First Judges Judges 3:7-31 Joshua had died. Without a strong leader, the Israelites began to disobey God. Nothing good ever happened when the Israelites disobeyed God. God wanted the people to love and obey Him, so he gave them a leader called a judge. When a judge led the people, the Israelites obeyed God. But when the judge died, the people forgot God and bad things happened. So the Israelites cried out to God again for help. Then God gave them another judge. Othniel (AHTH nih el) was the first judge. God was with Othniel, and Othniel led the Israelites into battle. God helped the Israelites win. The land was peaceful for many years, then Othniel died. With no leader, the Israelites forgot about God. God was angry. He let the king of Moab attack the Israelites and defeat them. The Israelites had to serve the king of Moab for 18 years. The Israelites were sad. They remembered how good it had been when they loved and obeyed God. They cried out to Him, Save us! So God chose Ehud (EE huhd) to save them. The Israelites sent Ehud to the king of Moab with a gift. Ehud made himself a sharp sword. He hid it under his clothes. Then Ehud went to the king of Moab, who was a very fat man. Ehud said, I have a secret message for you. The king told all his attendants to go away so he was alone with Ehud. When the king stood up, Ehud reached under his clothes and pulled out his sword. Ehud killed the king. Then he ran away, locking the doors of the room behind him. Ehud was gone when the king s servants came in. They found the king s room locked and thought he was using the bathroom. They waited, but the king never opened the door. When they unlocked the door, the king was dead on the floor! When Ehud got away, he blew a ram s horn and became the leader of the Israelites. They fought the Moabites and won. They had peace in the land for 80 years. Ehud died, and the Israelites forgot God again. When they remembered how good they had it when they loved and obeyed God, they cried out to Him, Save us! God sent a third judge, Shamgar (SHAM gahr), to save them. Christ Connection: After God s people sinned, the judges helped God s people obey God again. But the judges could not change the people s hearts and make them love God. God had a plan. He sent His Son, Jesus, to change His people s hearts and save them from sin forever. 3-5 YEAR OLDS 5